Corn-husker



c. l N.l Lewls.

Corn Husker.

No. 20,163. Patented May 4, 1858.`

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. LEWIS, 0F SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK.

Y CORN-HUSKER.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 20,163, dated May 4, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. LEwIs, of Seneca Falls, in the county of Seneca and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Husking Corn; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l, is a longitudinal elevation of my machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with sect-ions on the lines c m and y y. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the lever head detached. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the box B.

Similar letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement of the devices for separating the ear from the husks and stalk, and removing the ear in such a manner as to etlectually free it from the husks and silk.

A, is the base or bed-piece.

B, is a cast iron box firmly attached to it by screws.

C, is the blade, which is a vertical lancetshaped piece of steel riveted to the box, B.l

D, is a yielding gage, which receives the stem of the ear, and E, an arm from the standard G, which forms a rest upon which the ear is laid.

H is the hand lever, having in its head a` movable arm II, which is actuated by striking the projection, a, on the standard.

The blade is immovable on the box, B, and the gage, D, stands slightly above it when the lever is elevated. This gage has a stem which passes through the top of the box, B, and through a stirrup, J, and an opening' in the bed piece. A spring, b, coiled around it, is placed between the stirrup, J, and a small projection, c, which serves to keep it raised, when not affected by the lever, to the position shown by the dotted lines c, in Fig. 2. The gage is movable, to and from the blade, in the slot f, but secured in the desired position by the slotted plate, g, and screw-bolt, This arrangement enables it to be set to accommodate diil'erent varieties of corn, in which the thickness, of the husks at the butt diEers.

The arm, I, is held in a horizontal position by the spring, z', except when it is tilted by striking the standard at, a, on the descent of the lever.

The operation is as follows: The stalk ot corn is laid upon the hollow of the gage, D, with the ear resting on the arm, E, when the lever, H, is brought down by the right hand of the operator. As the butt of the ear lies in a position directly over the point of the blade, C, the head of the lever strikes it in its descent, upon which the gage yields, allowing the ear to be forced down until it is entirely cleft from the stem and husks.

At the same time the arm, I, strikes theY projection, a, of the standard, forcing uits other extremity suddenly downward, as seen in Fig. 2. The point of the ear being stationary on the arm, E, this quick movement of arm, I, gives the opposite end a downward impulse which carries it out of the husks most of which remain' clinging to the stalk. This method of releasing the ear has peculiar advantages as by turning it in the husks and throwing out the butt end lirst the silks, as well as the lighter husks, which are apt to adhere to the grain, are cleanly stripped 01T.

The dotted lines, L, show the position of the stalk, and, M, that of the ear as it is being released from the husk.

The corn does not require to be picked, but is husked from the stalk. The operation is instantaneous, and the mechanism by which it is eli'ected is exceedingly simple, and easily operated and kept in order.

That I claim as my invention and` desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

The combination and arrangement of the lever H, tilting arm, I, blade, C, and yielding gage, D, operating conjointly, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

CHARLES N. LEWIS.

Witnesses S. S. VIELE, L. F. S. VELE. 

